Volunteer your time, donate money, or create masks. Here’s how Chicagoland can give back during the coronavirus pandemic.

The spread of the coronavirus pandemic has placed an extra burden on many essential workers, primarily health care professionals. But there are other Chicagoland laborers who have felt the demand increase as well, like nonprofit organizations that help people in need.

Even though you’re quarantined at home, there are still ways to contribute to the greater good during this time of crisis.

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Here is an evolving list of ways you can give back and help, whether it’s through donating your time, money, expertise or supplies.

Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund is a collaboration of the City of Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust and the United Way of Metro Chicago to distribute funds to local organizations. www.chicagocovid19responsefund.org

Community Support Services offers services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. www.cssservices.org

Connections for Abused Women and their Children provides shelter, counseling, support and a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic abuse. www.cawc.org

DuPagePads is a social support service to help the homeless, has set up an emergency fund to help provide food, water, health supplies and transportation for residents of DuPage County. www.dupagepads.org/covid-19

Naperville Helps! is a joint effort by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Naperville Alliance to assist first responders and health care workers. www.gofundme.com/f/naperville-helps

Ryan Banks Academy The South Side school is taking donations to help at-risk children and their families dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. www.ryanbanksacademy.org

I Grow Chicago helps the Englewood neighborhood to thrive, not just survive. The nonprofit is taking donations for washable masks, emergency response packages and care packages, among other things. www.igrowchicago.org/operationhealingresistance/

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has a list of ways to help on its website, ranging from sending notes to its caregivers to donating items from its Amazon wish list, as well as personal protective equipment and meals. Check out the full list here.

UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital has various donation lists specified for infants, toddlers, school-aged children to adolescents. You can find more information about the hospital’s needs here.

Mask Match connects people who have extra masks directly with health care workers who need them, and you don’t have to leave your house to do it. Learn more here.

Food

Whether you’re pulling out your checkbook to give a few dollars to these organizations, or rolling up your sleeves to make meals, or cleaning out your car to make space for the deliveries, your efforts to help people get food are essential.

Greater Chicago Food Depository serves as a network hub for more than 700 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs. www.chicagosfoodbank.org

Connections for the Homeless serves individuals throughout the northern suburbs who are homeless or experiencing housing instability. The organization’s volunteer site offers a variety of time throughout the day to make meals or pack bagged lunches for those in need. connect2home.volunteerhub.com/

Utilize social media

There are many Facebook groups dedicated to specific communities addressing ways to help during the pandemic. Scroll through the Next Door app, too, to see what your neighbors may need or are offering.

Use your skills

Know how to sew? Then make as many masks as your fingers will allow. Can you whip up a great meal in minutes? Then find a local kitchen that could use another hand. Like to draw or paint? Then create a spectacular piece of art to hang in your window to thank the frontline workers; you never know who’s driving by. Have a healthy, but bored, college kid home with access to a car? Sign them up to be an Instacart shopper. Whatever skill or ability you possess, use it to make someone else’s life a bit easier and better.

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